Molecular Healing--Alpha Lipoic Acid and Atherosclerosis
Posted Aug 25 2008 3:14pm
In my book "Unlocking the Healing Code" I present the idea that all healing consists of supporting the information processing in the body. Information flows from various sources through what I call channels. One important channel is the molecular channel in which molecules carry information to the body's cells and tissues. Once molecules reach the cells they transfer information to the cell's receptors which cause changes in the cell. This effect translates to the whole body in what is called upward causation. In other words small changes can have a global effect on the body.
Recently one of these molecular sources of information, alpha lipoic acid has been getting some attention from researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute and College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. They found that lipoic acid reduced the formation of atherosclerotic plaquing by 55% in mice commonly used for the study of cardiovascular disease. What is even more exciting is that they also found that the mice exhibited 40% less weight gain and lower levels of triglycerides and low density lipoproteins (LDLs ie bad cholesterol).
According to the director of the Linus Pauling Institute Balz Frei, "they (lipoic acid supplements) are helping in a fundamental way to reset and normalize metabolic processes, in ways that could help address one of the most significant health problems in the Western world."
Even though the study was done on mice there is a good indication that the results will translate to humans because the formation of atherosclerosis and lipoprotein profiles are similar in mice and humans.
Alpha lipoic acid can be found in supplement form in health food stores. There are also some implications that it supports cells and wards off cellular aging. I have been recommending it for cellular health for some time now as an important molecular source of healing information.
References:
Oregon State University (2008, January 17). Lipoic Acid Could Reduce Atherosclerosis, Weight Gain.
Recently one of these molecular sources of information, alpha lipoic acid has been getting some attention from researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute and College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. They found that lipoic acid reduced the formation of atherosclerotic plaquing by 55% in mice commonly used for the study of cardiovascular disease. What is even more exciting is that they also found that the mice exhibited 40% less weight gain and lower levels of triglycerides and low density lipoproteins (LDLs ie bad cholesterol).
According to the director of the Linus Pauling Institute Balz Frei, "they (lipoic acid supplements) are helping in a fundamental way to reset and normalize metabolic processes, in ways that could help address one of the most significant health problems in the Western world."
Even though the study was done on mice there is a good indication that the results will translate to humans because the formation of atherosclerosis and lipoprotein profiles are similar in mice and humans.
Alpha lipoic acid can be found in supplement form in health food stores. There are also some implications that it supports cells and wards off cellular aging. I have been recommending it for cellular health for some time now as an important molecular source of healing information.
References:
Oregon State University (2008, January 17). Lipoic Acid Could Reduce Atherosclerosis, Weight Gain.